Posted on Thu, May. 08, 2008

-- Noted Bay-Waveland Yacht Club sailor and skipper Harry Chapman tried for many years to get the U.S. National Women's Sailing Championship to come to Bay St. Louis.

In 2009 his dream will come true.

In fact, the pleasure will be doubled.

Bay-Waveland Yacht Club will host the U.S. Men's and Women's National Sailing Championships, Sept. 22-26, 2009. These are the championships for the U.S. Sailing Association, which has chosen Flying Scot craft for these races.

Clubs from 11 areas of the country will compete in the men's and women's championships.

B-WYC won the Mallory Cup, emblematic of the U.S. Men's Sailing Championship, in 1984, 1988, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

B-WYC also won the Adams Trophy, emblematic of the U.S. Women's Sailing Championship, in 1977 and 1980. Present B-WYC Commodore Judy McKinney sailed on both of those championship teams with Cindy Stieffel, Amy Chapman Kleinschrodt and Charlotte Gordon.

"I told the coordinator of the championships that we had tried two times before and that we'd like to get the women's national championship to Bay-Waveland," Chapman said.

He found out in 2007 it would be hard to get the championship for 2008 but the possibility existed for 2009. And oddly enough, in 2009, the men's and women's championships would be conducted at the same site.

"We found out what we needed to submit and the next thing you know, we got it awarded," Chapman said.

Bay-Waveland is an experienced host to national championship events. It was the site of the Men's National Championship in 1980, the Junior National Championship in 1986, the U.S. Team Racing Championship in 1988 and the U.S. Singlehanded Championship in 1989.

"I think having a serious event each year is the best thing our yacht club can do for itself," said Chapman. "It brings members out and develops sailing."

B-WYC, which will open its new club building in late June, will also host the annual Lipton Regatta on Labor Day weekend. It won the event on Mobile Bay a year ago. B-WYC has won three straight Lipton titles - in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Hurricane Katrina wiped out the 2005 competition.

"This will be a big thing," Chapman said.

Chapman said the 2009 Gulf Yachting Association Opening Regatta will be held at B-WYC.

The club also will host the 2010 Flying Scot North American Championships and the yacht club board has asked Chapman to pursue two other national championships for 2011.